In 1896, an explorer named Carl Akeley found himself in a remote section of Ethiopia, chased by an eighty-pound leopard. He remembered the leopard pouncing, trying “to sink her teeth into my throat.” She missed, snagging his right arm with her vicious jaws. The two rolled in the sand—a long, fierce struggle. Akeley weakened, andContinue reading “The Fierce Struggle”
Category Archives: Struggles
Envy Is a Monster
Envy is a feeling common to humanity. It is also a monster—a giant that can eat anyone alive. How do you struggle with envy? Who are those in your sphere of influence or your field of vision who are experiencing favor or success, and with whom in some way you wish to swap places? WeContinue reading “Envy Is a Monster”
Sitting in the Middle of the Hard
Life is hard. There. I’ve said it. I know this because I’ve lived much of the last decade in pain—debilitating physical pain caused by chronic illness, and the soul-crushing pain of having a precious child who is locked in a place of emotional trauma. Perhaps the deepest hurt of all is knowing that I cannotContinue reading “Sitting in the Middle of the Hard”
Never a Waste of Time
Proverbs 1:20-23 Consistent interaction with God’s Word, regular time spent with a godly mentor, and a choice group of friends all combine to give us the greatest opportunity for growth in wisdom. To these, I would add one more suggestion. Pay close attention to life’s reproofs. Wisdom shouts in the street,She lifts her voice inContinue reading “Never a Waste of Time”
When We Are Helpless
When we are helpless, we are best-placed to learn true faith. At the beginning of Judges 6, the people of Israel once again “did what was evil in the sight of the LORD” (v 1). They had trapped themselves in a recurring cycle of rebellion and repentance, slow to learn and quick to forget thatContinue reading “When We Are Helpless”
The Discipline of Pain
There are many different ways we can think about our spiritual growth. We can focus on the disciplines needed to deepen our understanding of and connection to God. We can consider the journey by stages and describe each step with clear characteristics. But any discussion on spiritual growth involves the subject of pain. Pain isContinue reading “The Discipline of Pain”
It Happened to Us
It was a hard day when my husband found out that, like so many others, he too would soon be furloughed from employment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We believed that God would meet our basic needs, but the uncertainty of how that would happen was still terrifying. As I processed my jumbledContinue reading “It Happened to Us”
Why did testing come to Job?
Why believers undergo prolonged and difficult suffering has no one, simple explanation. But the Bible offers several reasons. First, testing strengthens our character. James says, the testing of your faith develops perseverance (James 1:2–3). Painful situations produce character the same way regular exercise builds muscle tone. Peter adds that testing proves our faith is genuineContinue reading “Why did testing come to Job?”
Is God guilty of neglect?
No. But to those who have hit bottom and feel abandoned, God might appear to be neglectful. In his despair Job paints a horrifying—and incorrect—picture of God, saying that He afflicts for no reason (9:17), overwhelms people with misery (9:18), destroys both the righteous and the unrighteous indiscriminately (9:22), laughs at the pain of theContinue reading “Is God guilty of neglect?”
The Worst Suffering of All. One That Need Not Have Been.
The historical background of Psalm 137 is very sad. The people of God failed to heed centuries of warnings and found themselves living with the consequences of disobedience. While God had not removed His fellowship—He loved the people of Judah as much as ever—He stripped them of their covenant blessings. No longer did they liveContinue reading “The Worst Suffering of All. One That Need Not Have Been.”
Intentional Faith 